Charles a



(No Model.) i r C. A. SHAFI'ER.

DISPLAY TABLE.

No. 591,504. Patented Oct. 12, 1897.

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UNITED STATES v PATENT unirn..Y Y

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'V DISPLAY-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent-No. 59`1,504,.dated October .12, 1897.

Application filed February 15, 1897. Seri-alN'o. 623,388; (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom tn/bay concern,.-

Be it known thatl, CHARLES A. SHAFFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display-Tables and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description'of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to use'the same.

This inventionrelates to improvements in tables for displaying merchandise, andhas for its object the construction of a table the top of which can be made wider than the normal size, where, as for light summer goods, an increased surface is desirable, and in which said increased surface can be used flat or the middle portion elevated and the parts on each side of the middle sloped down on each side from said middle part, so as to present such goods as millinery and merchandise contained in shallow boxes at an incline which will permit the contents'io be more readily seen.

The object also is to provide means whereby the extra leaf which is utilized to extend the' area of the top can be elevated above the table to form a shelf on and from which goods can be displayed. This is often desirable where toys and holiday goods are to be dis-v played generally for a short season in each year.

I accomplish. the objects of the invention,

` 'of the top elevated to form a shelf; Fig. 5, a

detail showing the under side of the middle or extra section ofthe table-top; Fig. 6, a detail showing the inside of the table-frame and the irons for supporting the middle section of the table-'top in their closed position, and Fig. 7 is a detail showing the manner in which the two side sections of the table-top are adjustably secured to the frame of the table.

Similar letters of reference indicate like yparts throughout the several views of the drawings.

A represents the body or frame of the table, and B are the legs which support the body and are preferably removably secured thereto, 'whereby they may be taken off and the table and with the transverse slotted plates on the sections jointed connections are provided between the table-frame A and the sections, which enable the sections to be moved out and in laterally, whereby the width of the table-top can Ybeadjusted, and alsopermits the sections to be tilted out of a horizontal position.

D is the extra or auxiliary section of the table-top, and when the table-top is at 4its narrow or normal width the section D will be underneath the top, as shown in Fig. l, the ends of the table-frame being cut away to make room for it. As shown in Fig. 5, this auxiliary section has transverse grooves covered with slotted plates cl, similar to the construction described for the sections C and C.

E are standards arranged in pairs at both of the ends of the table. The upper ends of the standards are curved outwardly and oppositely, as shown in the drawings, and to the curved ends the buttons e are pivotally secured. These buttons are inserted through the slots in the section D, whereby the said section is fastened to the standards. n Y

F is a plate, which is fastened with screws on the inside surface of the end of the frame. It has a top loop f, through which the two standards forming the pair for that end of the table are projected. The plate also has a longitudinal web f', which separates the two standards and to which the plate F is connected, preferably, by casting the plate F integral with the web. This plate F' is approximately the thickness of the standards away from the plate F and is for the purpose of steadying and supporting the standards when the latter are drawn up into position for supporting the section D when the said section is in use as a shelf. (See Fig. 4.)

The curved ends of the standards cause them to swing up into a horizontal position back of the end'of the frame, out of sight, when not in use for supporting the section D, and the hinged buttons e, sliding in the ways in the section D, enable the standards to adjust themselves in their places of attachment to the said section.

G are set-screws by which the standards will be locked and held at any desired position. The standards will preferably 'be jointed, as shown at E', whereby the ends can be folded back to shorten and bring the standards within the dimensions of the table when they are arranged horizontally.

His a hinged hasp, which is fastened by means of screws to the section D and is removably secured to the section C or C', as the case may be, there being a sufficient number of said hasps used on each side of the section D as will be required to fasten the side and middle sections together in the adjustment of the table shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. In a display-table, a top divided longitudinally into two equal parts and hinged to the frame of the table whereby lateral movement and vertically-swinging movement of the parts will be secured, and athird section of the top hinged to the frame whereby it can be dropped between and below the two iirstmentioned sections when the table-top is at its minimum width or raised into a position between and on a level with said first-mentioned sections to produce the maximum width ot' top or raised above the normal top of the table substantially as shown and described and for the purposes specified.

2. In a display-table, a top divided longitudinally into two equal parts and hinged to the frame of the table whereby lateral movement and vertically-swinging movement of the parts will be secured, and a third section underlying the two above-mentioned sections when the top is at its minimum width, said third section being connected with the frame of the table by standards as described whereby it can be maintained above the tableframe, and means for removably securing the middle section to the two outside sections, all substantially as described and for the purposes specified.

3. In a display-table, the combination with the frame supported by legs, of the sections C and C' forming the top, said sections having transverse grooves covered with longitudinally-slotted plates and the frame having knobs to engage the slotted plates as described, plates F secured to the ends of the frame and having the loop f, and vertical web f', standards E having curved ends as shown and terminating with eyes to which buttons e, are pivotally secured and the auxiliary section of the table-top D with transverse grooves covered with slotted plates, the buttons e engaging the slotted plates, substantially as shown and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

(3l-IAS. A. SHAFFER.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH A. MINTURN, FRANK W. WOERNER. 

